Two goals from Dartford skipper Elliot Bradbrook helped see off bottom side Margate on Tuesday night.
Bradbrook headed the Darts infront midway through the first half and Luke Wanadio doubled the lead shortly after the restart.
A 20th of the season was scored by Bradbrook with a superb 25-yard finish before Alfie Pavey added the fourth.
Dartford handed a debut to new loan keeper Billy Collings. He has joined for an initial month from Brighton as cover for Deren Ibrahim who is on international duty with Gibraltar.
That was the only change in Darford’s starting line-up.
Margate – who made three changes – started the evening 13 points adrift of safety at the bottom of the National League, South table while the Darts were comfortably inside the play-off zone.
The visitors looked lively early on but Dartford soon took charge.
A Duane Ofori-Acheampong effort, from an inviting Luke Wanadio cross, flashed wide early on before the Darts went ahead.
It was Wanadio again with a precise delivery, this time sending his corner kick onto the head of the unmarked Bradbrook, and he guided home his 19th goal of the season.
Dartford bossed the remainder of the half but Margate went close to levelling as Dean Morgan smashed a low shot just past the post.
Ryan Hayes tried his luck from outside the area on a couple of occasions but failed to find range. Darts came closer from one of his corners that caused mayhem in the Margate box but they managed to hold out.
Both teams had been forced into making an early sub, with Darts striker Andy Pugh and Margate wide-man Matthias Fanimo both picking up injuries.
Wanadio and the Darts carried on where they left off when the second half resumed.
The lead was doubled four minutes after the restart. Margate defender Chris Sessegnon failed to find his keeper allowing Wanadio to nip in. His first effort was saved but he scored with the follow-up.
Margate’s Jeffrey Monakana forced Collings into a save during a good spell for the visitors around the hour mark. They visitors were almost caught out, however, as a long ball found Ofori-Acheampong and his cut back was driven at the keeper by substitute Pavey.
Bradbrook’s second goal was a superb finish, picking up the ball in space 25 yards out before stroking it home to finish Margate off.
Dartford added to Margate’s woes with a fourth. Pavey swept the ball home with seven minutes left after fellow sub Lee Noble undid the tiring visiting defence with a surging run.
Dartford: Collings, Wood, Vint, Bonner, Wynter, Hayes (Murphy 71mins), Brown, Bradbrook, Wanadio, Ofori-Acheampong (Noble 71mins), Pugh (Pavey 33mins). Subs not used: Harris, Coxall
Margate: Miles, Sessengnon, Palmer (Moore-Azille 74mins), Rogers, Hamilton, Swift, Monakana, Evans, Gueye (Akindayini 71mins), Morgan, Fanimo (Dos Santos 33mins). Subs not used: Jackson, Pajetat.
Attendance: 872.
Report courtesy of Kent Online